System and method for high voltage transient suppression and spit protection in an x-ray tube

Abstract

A system and method to improve the high voltage performance of an x-ray tube with electrostatic deflection of an electron beam focal spot. The system and method provides protection of bias circuits from high voltage transients and spit protection in x-ray tubes through the use of a high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly coupled between the bias circuits of a high voltage generator and an x-ray tube vacuum housing of an x-ray generation system.

1. An x-ray generation system comprising:
 an x-ray tube vacuum housing with a cathode assembly spaced apart from an anode assembly; 
 a high voltage generator coupled to the x-ray tube vacuum housing providing a plurality of bias voltages from a plurality of bias circuits for controlling an electron beam from the cathode assembly to a focal spot on the anode assembly; 
 a high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly coupled between the high voltage generator and the x-ray tube vacuum housing for protection of the plurality of bias circuits within the x-ray generation system; and 
 a high voltage cable assembly coupled between the high voltage generator and the x-ray tube vacuum housing, wherein the high voltage cable assembly includes a first high voltage connector attached to one end of the high voltage cable assembly for connecting the high voltage cable assembly to the high voltage generator and a second high voltage connector attached to the opposite end of the high voltage cable assembly for connecting the high voltage cable assembly to the x-ray tube vacuum housing. 
 
   
   
     2. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage cable assembly comprises a plurality of electrical conductors positioned within the cable assembly and extending therethrough, wherein the plurality of conductors comprises at least two conductors providing bias voltages to control the electron beam focal spot width, at least two conductors providing bias voltages to control the electron beam focal spot length, at least one conductor providing a bias voltage to control the electron beam focal spot focusing, at least one conductor providing filament drive current, and at least one conductor providing a high voltage common return. 
   
   
     3. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly is integrated within the high voltage cable assembly. 
   
   
     4. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly is integrated within the high voltage connectors. 
   
   
     5. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the electron beam focal spot is controlled and deflected electrostatically through the plurality of bias voltages supplied by the plurality of bias circuits in the high voltage generator and applied to a plurality of electrodes in the cathode assembly. 
   
   
     6. The x-ray generation system of  claim 5 , wherein the cathode assembly comprises a plurality of electrodes with a plurality of bias voltages applied to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise at least two electrodes on opposite sides of a cathode filament to control the electron beam focal spot width, at least two electrodes on opposite ends of the cathode filament to control the electron beam focal spot length, at least one electrode to control electron beam focal spot focusing, an electrode connected to one end of the cathode filament to provide filament drive current, and an electrode connected to the opposite end of the cathode filament to provide a high voltage common return. 
   
   
     7. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly comprises at least one transient suppression device coupled between each bias circuit and a high voltage common return. 
   
   
     8. The x-ray generation system of  claim 7 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly comprises at least one transient suppression device coupled between a filament drive circuit in the high voltage generator and the high voltage common return. 
   
   
     9. The x-ray generation system or the of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one transient suppression device comprises at least one of a diode, avalanche diode, transient voltage suppression (TVS) diode, SIDAC, metal oxide varistor (MOV), thyristor, SIDACtor® thyristor, and spark gap. 
   
   
     10. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly is integrated within the high voltage generator. 
   
   
     11. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly is integrated within the x-ray tube vacuum housing. 
   
   
     12. The x-ray generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the high voltage transient suppression and spit protection circuit assembly is integrated within an assembly connecting the high voltage generator to the x-ray tube vacuum housing.